After five first-half lead changes, Syracuse emerged victorious against Colgate in its final game of the season.

The Hammerheads (3-3) defeated the Raiders (2-4), 37-21, on Saturday in Hamilton, New York to finish off a season that started with potential but was soon derailed after injuries to many key starters. Some of those players returned to the field on Saturday though.

“Everyone’s a lot more cheerful when they finish the season off with a win,” sophomore captain Angus Bishop said. “Using that momentum, we’ll be able to build off to next year and onto bigger and brighter things.”

The game was largely competitive throughout the first half and into the second. SU’s 20-13 halftime lead evaporated early after Colgate scored in the 45th minute to put itself up 21-20.

The Raiders’ second half lead didn’t last long, though, as SU senior forward Vince Morales scored his third try of the day only eight minutes later to make the score 27-21. A penalty kick by junior lock Jack Faure and a try by senior scrumhalf Pat Soloviev ended any chance of a Colgate comeback.

“We had been pushing them around all day, but later we were a lot more physical with them,” Morales said. “Honestly I was just at the right place at the right time.”

The season finale saw the return of many players who had fallen to injury in previous weeks. Bishop and Faure, who were both subbed out of last last Saturday’s loss to Binghamton for head and shoulder injuries, respectively, played against Colgate.

Senior prop Brad Orr also returned for the Hammerheads after a one-week absence due to a shoulder injury. Orr made an impact early with a 20th-minute try that tied the game 13-13 after Colgate grabbed an early lead.

The Hammerheads won’t advance to the Empire Rugby Conference championship game, but Saturday’s win was a positive way to end the season for the team’s eight seniors.

“It was nice to get a win, especially in front of a big crowd,” Morales said. “The team is in good hands. They have a solid base for the future and as a senior that’s nice to know.”

Published on October 26, 2014 at 11:36 pm